Electrosmog – the great big elephant in the room

Electrosmog – the great big elephant in the room

There’s no denying that chronic illness is on the rise, and in particular neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Parkinsons Disease, Autism, and also ME/CFS, Lyme Disease and Autoimmune disorders.(1-3) While genetics, heavy metals, pathogens and other environmental toxins all play a role, there’s one huge invisible piece of the puzzle that seems to be overlooked – electrosmog.

Could ‘electrosmog’ be the elephant in the room that is causing dysregulation of everything?

Electrosmog is the sum of all the toxic electromagnetic radiation we are exposed to. At the AONM Annual International Conference in London on 19 November 2017, Dr Klinghardt gave a presentation titled ‘EMFs and the Potentiation of Pathogens and Heavy Metals: Effective Mitigation and Detox’. The information is quite shocking so I’ve located all the research Dr Klinghardt referred to and tried to organise the information in easy-to-digest sections to ensure wider dissemination of this important risk factor in modern chronic disease. So, let’s look at what the science says, and then consider some practical solutions.

Alzheimer’s Disease correlates with mobile phone radiation

Alzheimer’s Disease is now the leading cause of death in England and Wales4 and 1 in 3 people born in the UK this year are expected to develop Alzheimer’s.5 Back in 2005, two Swedish researchers hypothesised that the sudden increase in Alzheimer’s Disease was due to a new environmental factor introduced around 1992. This is when the use of digital mobile phones began. A strong correlation between deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease and mobile phone power output across the country was found, and based on this data rates of Alzheimer’s Disease for the subsequent 10 years was predicted.6 Ten years on, it turned out to be an accurate prediction and the reason why mobile phone radiation was linked to Alzheimer’s is based on rat studies that showed this radiation affected the blood-brain barrier, opening it up to allow an influx of toxins into the brain.7 Aluminium is one such toxin, which is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease.8 For Aluminium toxicity to cause disease, it needs to cross a threshold, meaning either an accumulation over time or a single administered dose that could cross that threshold instantly.9

Cellphone towers in your home

Cell towers, also known as mobile phone base stations, transmit and receive wireless signals to and from mobile phones. They emit microwave radiation constantly and there has been lots of research showing that living within 300-400m of these antennas is linked to many health problems including sleep disturbances, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, depression, irritability, visual problems, cardiovascular symptoms, poor memory and concentration.10-11The BioInitiative report, updated in 2012, contains nearly 2000 papers from over 20 countries on the health and environmental effects of electromagnetic fields.12

If you have a wi-fi router then this acts in the same way as a cellphone tower in your own home, with the one exception being that you have the power to turn it off and on. But, it’s not just the wi-fi router that contributes to electrosmog from within your home, portable phones, bluetooth devices, fluorescent lights and baby monitors all emit microwave radiation. In the case of cordless phones it is the base units that cause the biggest problem as the handset only transmits during use, whereas the base is transmitting throughout the day and night. Long-term (8 month) exposure to cordless phone DECT bases was shown to significantly change expression of 143 proteins in the brain – which may explain associated symptoms like headaches, sleep disturbance, fatigue, memory deficits, and brain tumor.13

Most at risk are unborn babies as the pelvic structure promotes deep microwave radiation penetration which can then be absorbed by a developing embryo or foetus.14 A study back in 1981 showed that 2.4GHz affects foetal development in mice leading to more malformed foetuses.15

Astute readers will notice that 2.4GHz was the exact frequency adopted for wireless technology, which was invented in 1997 and introduced in 1998; considerably later than the date of this study that linked 2.4GHz exposure to birth defects. As it happens, there was knowledge of the dangers of this frequency back in the 60s and 70s.

In the 1960s, Government microwave weapons expert, Barrie Trower, specialised in microwave warfare. He claims these microwaves are stealth weapons used to make people sick and they cause neurological damage and cancers over several years. It’s the ultimate stealth weapon because it’s invisible and the damage to proteins and DNA is not immediately obvious but can take 5-10 years for illness to develop. Trower also condemned the use of wi-fi in schools as the eggs in the ovaries of school girls are more susceptible to radiation than all other DNA in the body, and DNA damage to the eggs will massively increase the risk of these girls growing up to have genetically damaged children.16

A 1975 paper showed that 3GHz markedly disturbs living organisms and changes brain bioelectric function.17 A 1972 paper demonstrated depression of phagocytosis with 2.4GHz radiation, meaning that macrophages, one of our main immune defences, stop working weakening our protection against pathogens.18 In 1982 another paper showed that endotoxin, found on the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria in our guts, became more lethal when combined with 2.4GHz.19 Based on these papers, it really does make you wonder why this frequency was universally adopted for wi-fi.

And then came the smart meters

Smart meters produce pulsing frequencies that are many magnitudes more powerful than cellphones with a range of about 6-8 feet. Many new symptoms or worsening of symptoms have been reported following their installation including sleep problems, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, stress, headaches, ringing in the ears, fatigue, poor concentration and memory, eye issues, heart palpitations and other cardiac problems.20 There have been cases of Parkinsons, ALS, and MS developing within weeks of smart meters being installed.21

What makes smart meters such a problem is the stronger, persistent pulsing radiations that pulse several times per minutes non-stop day and night. This pulsed radiation could be more damaging than constant radiation. They pulse between 10,000 and 190,000 times per day based on data provided by the utility companies. The companies will claim that they only emit radiation for 60 seconds per day and they get away with this fabrication of truth because each pulse lasts for only 3 milliseconds, therefore that 60 seconds is actually 20,000 pulses per day, which works out at a pulse rate of 1 every 4 seconds. Another myth is that they emit less radiation than mobile phones or wi-fi, but this too is manipulation of data to hide the sharp spikes of peak power that last only milliseconds. That large pulse of energy every 4 seconds lasting just a few milliseconds is averaged out to hide the real dangers.22 Because the heart is an electromagnetic organ it is very much affected and the brain is also strongly affected, especially the pineal gland which makes the hormone melatonin that we need for sleep. It’s clear then why sleep issues are so strongly related to smart meters which continue to pulse throughout the night disrupting pineal gland function.

In trying to demonstrate the pulsing spikes of smart meters it was also discovered that aside from the microwave radiation (which is in the frequency range of 300MHz-300GHz), smart meters were also emitting kilohertz frequencies in the range of 2-50kHz.23 These frequencies are a known nerve block used in medicine to disrupt parts of the nervous system locally, but in the case of smart meters it would have that effect on the entire nervous system in your body.24 This really needs to be looked into more. If the entire nervous system is blocked momentarily with each pulse, this must be having detrimental effects on our bodies.

Damage is caused via oxidative stress

In order to protect ourselves from the damaging effects of microwave radiation we need to first understand the mechanism of action that causes damage within our body. It’s been shown that regular exposure significantly increased oxidative stress and inflammation resulting in significant DNA damage in the brain as measured by elevated markers of oxidative stress after exposure to microwave radiation.25 One specific mechanism is described in a paper by Professor Martin Pall where he documented 23 studies showing that the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) affects voltage-gated calcium channels due to the EMR stressing the calcium channel protein. This causes an influx of calcium into the cell leading to all kinds of havoc, but one particular outcome is an increase of peroxynitrite which leaks out of the mitochondria causing destruction to cells.26 Peroxynitrite is a potent oxidant so may be driving the oxidative stress markers found in these studies. Peroxynitrite is implicated in ME/CFS, ALS, Parkinsons, Alzheimer’s Disease and MS.27-28

Microwave radiation makes pathogens more virulent

Dr Klinghardt conducted a study with a Swiss mould researcher in which two samples of mould in petri dishes were exposed to a wi-fi router. The second sample was placed inside a faraday cage, which protects against EMFs. In the first sample there was an increased growth rate of mould 20-30 times higher and with 600 times the number of mycotoxins compared to the sample in the faraday cage. Mycotoxins are toxins produced by moulds. The Swiss researcher sadly died and for legal reasons it’s not been possible to get this study published, but it demonstrates the increased toxicity of the mould. Dr Klinghardt believes the increase is mycotoxin is a result of the microbes feeling under attack by the EMR and producing toxic chemicals to protect themselves and fend off perceived attackers. Consider that we all have natural moulds living within our bodies and the exposure of these normally benign symbiotic microbes to wi-fi could turn them into a source of internal toxins. Candida is one such microbe that has become more problematic.21

Moulds are not the only pathogens made more harmful by microwaves. A 2013 study showed that the radiation from using a mobile phone could reactivate the Epstein-Barr Virus.29 Chronic Epstein-Barr is implicated in many chronic illnesses, including ME/CFS and many autoimmune diseases.

As mentioned above, endotoxin also became more lethal when combined with exposure to 2.4GHz. Endotoxin, also known as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is found on the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. When it gets released from the bacteria in our gut and enters the bloodstream it is very inflammatory and implicated in many diseases, especially autoimmune diseases. LPS is a known trigger for intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut. 19

The synergy with toxic metals

Toxic metals within us act like an antenna to concentrate the wi-fi even more in our system, leading to greater amounts of oxidative damage. And also microwave radiation makes exposure to toxic metals much more dangerous, as the radiation immobilises enzymes needed for detox, effectively trapping heavy metals within our cells. This was well demonstrated in a study on autistic children that showed EMR from wireless devices trapped heavy metals in cells causing heavy metal toxicity, and when the EMR was eliminated the efficiency of the heavy metal detox dramatically increased leading to better clinical outcomes, showing that EMR acts synergistically with environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of autism.30

Dr Klinghardt also conducted a study on EMR exposure during pregnancy and risk of autism. He looked at both the current sleep location of autistic children and the sleep location of the mother during her pregnancy with that child. Results showed a strong link between EMR exposure during pregnancy and development of neurological illness, and when a pregnant mother was exposed to wi-fi there was a 20.7 times greater risk of autism. This indicates that the sleep environment of the child, and also of the mother during pregnancy, should be considered as a contributing factor in autism.31

Another source of heavy metal toxicity is dental amalgams, and microwave radiation also potentiates this risk. A 20-minute exposure to a 2.4GHz wi-fi router significantly increased the release of mercury from dental amalgam into saliva.32 Mercury also decreases levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine leading to neurological issues such as depression. Perinatal exposure to mercury is a risk factor for developmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorders and ADHD. When mothers with dental amalgams use a mobile phone or are exposed to microwave radiation, the amount of mercury from the fillings is increased leading to greater toxicity in the developing foetus.33

Solutions

Based on the research above, we know that the microwave radiation is damaging to our health and we can of course limit our exposure as much as we can, but it’s impossible to eliminate it all, so what can be done to mitigate the negative effects?

Propolis

The damaging effects of EMR are via it’s production of reactive oxygen species that causes oxidative stress. Propolis is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and acts as an antioxidant and free radical scavenger to reduce nitric oxide and malondialdehyde, which are markers for lipid peroxidation, and also increases antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. What this means is you have better protection against free radicals reducing damage caused by oxidative stress after long-term EMR exposure. One of the main active components in propolis is caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which has been shown to be protective against radiation damage to DNA;34 prevention of microwave radiation-induced cataracts;35 and protective against retinal oxidative stress in long-term mobile phone use.36

Melatonin

Melatonin works in the exact same way as propolis to reduce oxidative stress. Melatonin is a very powerful brain antioxidant. Unfortunately it’s no longer possible to buy melatonin in the UK, but it’s produced by the pineal gland at night during total darkness, so ensuring you are not exposed to artificial light during the night can help increase levels. Melatonin is a potent neural antioxidant and also inhibits formation of peroxynitrite, which is a very toxic oxidant formed during conditions of oxidative stress and inflammation.37 Melatonin has been found to be low in those with autistic spectrum disorders and the lower the melatonin level, the more severe the symptoms. Melatonin given to autistic children improved symptoms,38 and significantly reverses changes in neurobehaviour and oxidative stress to the brain caused by radiation exposure.39

Rosemary

Rosemary protects against the harmful effects of EMR.40 Pre-treatment with rosemary extract prevented damage caused by oxidative stress and allows oxidation markers to return to normal after 30 days, compared to those not pre-treated with rosemary, where there was an increase in lipid peroxidases and increased cholesterol that never returned to normal.41

Green tea

Epigallocatechin-gallate is an antioxidant polyphenol found mainly in green tea that protects against microwave radiation-induced oxidative damage and enhances antioxidant activity.42

Uric acid

Uric acid is a peroxynitrite scavenger, which makes it great to address peroxynitrite-related inflammation in the central nervous system, and also to protects the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.43 Uric acid is found in urine, which may explain the positive results reported by those using urine therapy.

Ideas to reduce exposure and reduce damage

Turn all wi-fi off at night and unplug any devices that emit radiation

Increase natural production of melatonin by sleeping in total darkness

Replace your cordless phone with a wired-in one or at least position the base as far from where you sleep as possible

Mortazavi G et al (2016) Increased Release of Mercury from Dental Amalgam Fillings due to Maternal Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields as a Possible Mechanism for the High Rates of Autism in the Offspring: Introducing a Hypothesis. J Biomed Phys Eng. 6: 41-6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4795328/